Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Early Childhood: PreKindergarten - Grade 3 Certification, B.S.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Degrees Offered by Departments

The Early Childhood: PreKindergarten - Grade 3 Certificate is a plan of study designed for teacher candidates seeking Texas Teacher initial certification, specifically for early childhood education (preschool and early primary grades). Candidates pursuing this plan will receive coursework and training that integrates the following concepts/themes: diversity and equity; families, students, communities; play-based learning; developmentally appropriate learning environments; best practices in planning and teaching in early childhood (including knowledge and skills to support child development and early literacy development); developmentally appropriate assessments; and content areas, including math, science, social studies, and reading.

University Core Requirements (42 hours)


Communications (6 hours)


Mathematics (3 hours)


Life and Physical Sciences


Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list

Language, Philosophy, and Culture (3 hours)


Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list

Creative Arts (3 hours)


Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list

U.S. History (6 hours)


Government/Political Science (6 hours)


Social/Behavioral Science (3 hours)


Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list

Component Area (6 hours)


Additional Information


*GPA of 2.50 or higher required in ECED coursework.

*Grade of B- or better required in WRIT 3304.

Additional Information


  • Enrollment in ECED 4328  , ECED 4341  , ECED 4342  , ECED 4343  , ECED 4344  , ECED 4378  , and ECED 4978  requires admission to TEP.
  • 3.000 GPA required in pedagogy coursework.
  • ECED 4378  must be taken in the fall or spring semester immediately preceding the final semester.
  • ECED 4978  must be taken in the final semester.
  • Courses for Alternative Route (currently certified educators in TEA-approved categories).

Teacher Education Program (TEP) Admission Requirements


  • Completion of 60 semester credit hours.
  • Completion of prerequisite coursework (ECED 1354  , ECED 4100  , ECED 4322  , and INST 3313  ).
  • Public speaking requirement met.
  • Basic skills in reading, mathematics & writing requirements met.
  • 2.750 GPA overall or in the last 60 semester credit hours.
  • $57 TEA Admission fee.
  • Application for admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP).

Teacher Certification Requirements


  • Passing scores on the appropriate state assessments (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards [TExES]) are required for recommendation for teacher certification.
  • Early Childhood - Grade 3 Content (292)
  • Science of Teaching Reading (293)
  • Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 (160)
  • All courses outside the University Core must be C- or better.

General Degree Requirements


  • Students must complete at least 127 semester credit hours. A minimum of 45 hours of the 120 semester hours must be advanced (3000-4000 level) course work according to the requirements of the respective major.
  • Students must complete the University Core Curriculum requirements (refer to Core Curriculum requirements in the UHCL Catalog.)
  • Students must fulfill the statutory requirements of the Texas State Education Code, including the following:
    • Six hours of U.S. History (three hours may be Texas History).
    • Six hours of Constitutions of the United States and Texas.
  • Students must demonstrate writing proficiency by completing nine hours of lower-level (1000-2000 level) and upper-level (3000-4000 level) English composition course credit with a minimum grade of “C-” or better. Some majors may require higher grades in English composition.
  • Students must complete at least 25% of the credit hours required for the degree (i.e., 30 semester credit hours for a 120 credit hour program) through instruction offered by UHCL to fulfill the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) residency requirements.
  • Students must complete the final 30 semester hours of 3000 and 4000 level course work in residence at UHCL.
  • Students must complete a minimum of 12 semester credit hours of upper-level (3000-4000 level) coursework in the major in residence at UHCL.
  • Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.000 on course work completed at UHCL with grades of “C” or better on at least 30 hours of resident upper-level work. Grades of “C-“or below cannot be applied toward the 30 hours of resident upper-level work.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Degrees Offered by Departments